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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Jewish Calculator

I whiled away many dull hours in church leafing through My Book of Bible Stories. It was beautifully illustrated and I took note of what each character wore. I thought it such a shame that Jezebel* was thrown out the window to wild dogs wearing the loveliest robes and simply dripping in jewelry. In another story, an Israelite priest (Aaron?) was pictured in his ceremonial garments, wearing something that looked to me like a giant calculator on this chest. I dubbed it the “Jewish calculator.”

It turns out that the ornament’s proper name is “breastplate of the high priest,” but I still think of it as the “Jewish calculator.” In fact, that’s what I exclaimed when I spotted the center necklace at the thrift store. (I've got to take out one column to make it the 12 tribes of Israel. I don't think there were 15.)

*Actual scanned image from My Book of Bible Stories. As a kid, I also really liked Babylon the Great’s outfit (from Revelation – It’s Grand Climax at hand!). Jezebel and Babylon the Great images courtesy of letslookupandsmile.

I totally had that same book. I think my parents bought it from the Jehovah's Witnesses. The outside was kind of mustard yellow, right? I have NO idea where that book is (but I always loved the picture!).

It's funny how you dubbed the hoshen a calculator - according to some sources it was some kind of an oracle, communicating with the Priest (the gems lit up, and as they symbolized letters and the tribes, they conveyed the message of G-d). I love all the necklaces and the bracelets btw!

I had that book too! Memories come flooding back! I loved that one of Jezebel, and my other favorite was Wise King Solomon (I think? Where he threatens to split the baby in two?). Unfortunately, it's not in our public library.